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Post by lynette on Dec 27, 2023 16:09:05 GMT
Flippin awful day. Supposed to be seeing Crazy for You followed by Dear England. Sadly our train terminated part way to London. Change of train required but next train too full and wouldn’t allow anyone to get on, next train the same. Resigned to not seeing C4U just take an easy trip into Waterloo for DE. But no, coming back my train is now being brought forward so getting home after the show would be far too risky. Now sat at home moaning How awful. I really feel for you. Two good shows. Hope future plans go better.
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Post by lynette on Dec 23, 2023 12:04:22 GMT
It isn’t by a long chalk, his best play. Why don’t they revive The Invention of Love?
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Post by lynette on Dec 23, 2023 12:03:05 GMT
Funny that, Jan. and just to add that the Othellos I’ve seen have all been remarkable and in the Hytner case, brilliant. What is it about the Scottish play that makes it a problem?
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Post by lynette on Dec 22, 2023 20:24:47 GMT
So disappointing Nothing new here Some atrocious and terrible costuming Poor Fleance looking like a school matron in a wool two piece Staging way too minimal in a bad way And the sound cliched and outdated Shame to have to wear 1980s style economy class headphones too I think having seen Stewart and Branagh give their all I have seen my “Macbeth” in my lifetime The Goold production was also directed so well I don’t see it being ever matched Since then from Kinnear to Eccleston The play has been handled by cack handed directors You are right in that it has been a while since we have praised a brilliant prod of this play. Seems that studying it at GCSE level ruins it for budding directors. 😂
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Post by lynette on Dec 22, 2023 20:22:05 GMT
Just to say I hope everyone has a good weekend and we can look forward to a year of good theatre and good chat here on the Board. Not an easy time for everyone, so again as usual, log in here if you want to chat/ have a moan/ reflect.
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Post by lynette on Dec 18, 2023 15:24:06 GMT
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Post by lynette on Dec 18, 2023 15:23:50 GMT
lynette undecided on the day, matinee or evening? We’re doing matinee
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Post by lynette on Dec 16, 2023 16:53:37 GMT
What’s on Stage: It’s flawed but feisty, and frankly, any show that can seamlessly weave “Y Viva España”, Irish dancing and Nick Lowe’s “Peace, Love and Understanding” together with such a sense of raucous, chaotic joy has earned itself an extra star. 4* Will look to catch it over Christmas, oxfordsimon second time you have motivated me to catch a play, seeing Glacier on Fri evening as was in Oxford this weekend anyway. Seeing this on 30th - Neil? I note about the seating; found it quite peculiar and yes, moves unexpectedly so beware.
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Post by lynette on Dec 13, 2023 21:36:05 GMT
Still thinking about this. The headphones both added and detracted. Added in the sense that the actors could really whisper and could use literally all of the tones in their arsenal, which were not inconsiderable (DT’s beautiful diction was amazing, his pronunciation of “rhubarb” was worth the price of admission on its own, and Cush Jumbo was stellar). Detracted in the sense that the actors were there, and acting, and we could see them, but the immediacy of live theatre was taken away a bit, for me. I tried taking my headphones off at one point (the beginning of “act 2” has some potential audience participation for those in the front row, be warned (I think you can decline by not making eye contact)) but there was too much going on to really do that for very long. The headphones worked beautifully with the witches, though. Overall I enjoyed it very much, there was some really superb acting. Thanks for posting this. Sounds like a nightmare for me. I’m not a headphones kinda gal at the best of times.
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Post by lynette on Dec 13, 2023 11:19:10 GMT
I think it's an uninspiring appointment, but I don't know who else (if anyone) was either considered or wanted the job. As most of the press coverage prioritises who she is rather than the work she's done I will say I'm concerned by her inept handling of two controversies while running the Kiln (the renaming of the theatre, and their refusal to host the UK Jewish film festival) - the NT job is very high-profile and diplomacy is one of the talents needed. On the programming side I expect she'll continue the Norris trend of tending to programme stuff of interest to Guardian readers, narrowing the audience appeal from Hytner's day. ... Here's Arifa Akbar in the Guardian: "In 2017, he {Norris} was criticised for his focus on new, forward-facing work at the expense at established classics. But that approach was vindicated when the work he chose – Tony Kushner’s Angels in America (1991) and Stephen Sondheim’s Follies (1971) – went on to commercial success with Tony award wins and Broadway transfers". So in her view two established classics from almost 50 and 30 years ago count as "new, forward-facing" work and the measure of success for NT productions is commercial success in USA. Last year, national has had a whole load of successes which have transferred to the west end or about to transfer. Dear england, motive and the Cue, crucible, e.t.c. I assume alba and the witches will be the same 50/50 (approx) new work. He's regime is clearly ending very strongly in commercial terms On indu, the kiln thing was a storm in a teacup really, no one really cared after a few months. The Jewish film stuff was more of an issue but that's all in the past now as well Commercially and artistically, she's done well at the Kilm, I'm sure she'll do well at the NT Not ‘in the past’ for everyone. Looking back from where we are now, the Tricycle refusal to host the Israeli film festival was somewhat of a canary in the mine, wasn’t it? Institutions are under pressure to cut ties with all kinds of people, things, issues and the NT will come under pressure in just the same way. Maybe being in the middle of extensive dental treatment is dampening my spirits but I am not optimistic, not at all.
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Post by lynette on Dec 9, 2023 23:12:45 GMT
Just got back after seeing the first preview. The first thing you spot is the headphones on all the seats. When you put them on they tell you which ear they should be on. I’m not sure if they added anything to the performance but you could hear everything very clearly. Certain parts of dialog only came through the headphones, for example, I heard the witches but never saw them. The stage itself is just a raised square in the middle with a large ‘window’ in the background through which you can see other members of the cast at certain times. Overall I enjoyed it but couldn’t say it was the best Macbeth I’ve seen. I enjoyed David Tennant’s performance but preferred Cush Jumbo as Lady M. I’m not very good at writing these things but I’m glad I saw it Thanks for posting. I do get a good idea of the show from this. I sent my tix back because I didn’t want to have to use the earphones. I couldn’t understand the concept. Why wear if you are supposed to be listening to what is in front of you? Still puzzled.
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Post by lynette on Nov 25, 2023 15:45:44 GMT
I’m just thinking how clever to schedule this over the Xmas holiday period. RSC take note.
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Post by lynette on Nov 25, 2023 10:42:36 GMT
Dear England is about British football, it does fine in London but it's a bit foreign for New York audiences. It's abiut English football, not British football. The clue's in the name. Not so foreign if they watch the Wrexham programmes which are very good by the way.
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Post by lynette on Nov 12, 2023 22:20:38 GMT
My GP surgery has just changed hands and they now have a booking system of online only. I'm quite PC literate but even I couldn't figure it out. You have to choose your symptons from long list but mine (a very common one) not there so you can't go any further. Spoke to reception and 3 of then couldn't find it either. I told them that if they couldn't do it then what chance do the rest of us stand especially the elderly and those whose first language is not English. Now if you have an "inverted nipple" you are good to go but high pressure is a no no. They agreed with me and said their IT people would look into it. Good news is they have phoned me and told me my sympton is now on the list. But now even though the doctor has told me to book a follow up appointment in a months time I've been told I can only request it online 2 days before!!! So if you didn't have high blood pressure you will have after trying to book an appointment. You have my sympathy. My surgery asks you to fill in a load of boxes with the problem. There isn’t a list of symptoms thank goodness. But the point you make is important. How do people with limited IT skills manage? It took me a while to get the hang of it and I’m ok with computer, not brilliant. But what I’m thinking is how do you know what your symptoms are? The one you have that might be the key or help to diagnosis is the one you don’t know about but shows up in a way a person to person talk would show up. A doctor looking at you, seeing how you move, get up from a chair, the colour of your skin, your hard breathing etc would see symptoms you just haven’t bought about. Surgeries have become bureaucratic, tick box exercises, ‘scientific’ and careless. Yes, careless in both senses of the word. I’ve had plenty of experience with doctors. I’ve been very lucky with most and treatments but I can tell ya a few stories….
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Post by lynette on Oct 31, 2023 20:28:24 GMT
Maybe the whole point is the broadcast; on the telly it doesn’t really matter where the voice is coming from. I must say that I booked this to hear and see Tennant act in front of me. I can access him on YouTube any day if the week. As for hygiene, I take the point that any close contact is risky a la Covid but wearing something right on your face which might have been just before on the face of someone with covid or a cold doesn’t appeal. I’m not a silly person, I don’t still wear a mask and all that but I do have serious reservations which the person I spoke to at the theatre could not help me with.
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Post by lynette on Oct 31, 2023 13:13:55 GMT
I don’t have a problem with casting young. A bit more direction needed maybe. At least we didn’t need earphones….
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Post by lynette on Oct 31, 2023 13:11:31 GMT
I loved The Encounter but not certain how those techniques transfer to Shakespeare. Please tell me how it worked for Encounter because i am very wary of this. The earphones are fixed to seat, wired in and volume fixed. This much i know. How did they work for hearing aid wearers and also what about the hygiene? Not to be too paranoid we are still Covidy, and I’m not sure I want to wear something worn by someone with a cold, let alone Covid and then wiped over with a germ laden j cloth by an underpaid FOH.
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Post by lynette on Oct 28, 2023 12:31:04 GMT
I was highly sceptical and ended up won over So don't write it off Tbh we can’t fit it in. But i am concerned about the RSC’c basic programming. Hoping for better imo with new guys
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Post by lynette on Oct 27, 2023 22:07:48 GMT
All this warm weather, that’s the problem. What we need a re regular thunder storms and hail. Won’t see so many protests then. One of the ‘side issues’ of climate change is sociopolitical.
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Post by lynette on Oct 27, 2023 22:04:31 GMT
😂
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Post by lynette on Oct 27, 2023 21:46:01 GMT
I saw this end of last week, and felt it to be...fine. Brave piece of programming from the RSC, and it touched on a lot of issues/current affairs topics, but I don't feel like it did any of them particularly well, or in any real depth, and thus I came away unsure of what a lot of the point of it was. 5 stars for effort for sure (it's really quite bold for this to be in the RSC considering it's core audience) - but 3 star execution. I think I’m a core and I ain’t going.
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Post by lynette on Oct 27, 2023 21:43:05 GMT
I can’t give this all those stars , Steve. It just wasn’t that good for me. I liked the pace, the stark setting was interesting with its turning wheel references, the costumes just too dreary for me. I mean this is a kingdom we are fighting for here, lads. No sign of it. The young actors didn’t cut it for me. They were not grounded enough, they need to dig in, breathe, connect with the audience more. Edmund had a good go at this and I’d see him again. Gloucester being older, managed this. Kenny was workmanlike, not great. With luck, I might see his second go in a few years’ time. The trouble is, these days with our longevity we expect ‘old’ to mean 80s and seeing Kenny’s nice - he’s been to the gym- body didn’t cut it for me. ( in another way, it provided a pleasant distraction ) No great insights. Nothing thrilling. They all spoke clearly but I’m not sure they all understood what they were saying. 3* for me.
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Post by lynette on Oct 22, 2023 17:42:39 GMT
Sounds very interesting, thanks Steve and Anthony for your appraisals. I’m hoping I like Uthred and the Vikings. I do remember Noggin the Nog - any resemblance? 😂
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Post by lynette on Oct 22, 2023 13:38:09 GMT
😳
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Post by lynette on Oct 21, 2023 20:23:35 GMT
Boring question what time will I be out of a Saturday matinee? Need to work out eating arrangements. Website states 2hr 50mins running time and I think I cleared the theatre about 2205hrs when I saw it last week Ta. Long one, then. I can’t remember it being that long at the NT. Must have been enjoying myself. Will take extra snacks.
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